The family of a man who died after he was struck by a car in a fatal hit and run incident in Whyteleafe last year have expressed their "concern and surprise" at the sentence for the driver who was involved.

Mitchell Locke, 26, was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 30 months after he left the scene of a serious crash that resulted in the death of Matthew Berry, 30.

Matthew was returning from home after an evening with work-mates when he was fatally struck by a BMW on a stretch of the A22 in Whyteleafe on Thursday, January 9, 2020.

As the Croydon Guardian reported previously, despite the best efforts of the emergency first responders who attended, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

After an investigation into the incident, it emerged that Locke was behind the wheel of the car involved in Matthew's death.

On Tuesday (February 23), Locke was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment and disqualified from driving for 30 months for "leaving the scene of a road traffic collision which resulted in the death of a pedestrian" a statement from Surrey Police published Wednesday read.

Accompanying a police description of the case was a statement from Matthew's family, who were praised by investigators for their "immense dignity and composure" during the proceedings.

In it, they thanked the police for their support and work since the incident and also expressed their surprise and what they said was "apparent leniency" in the sentence handed down to Locke.

"We would like to thank the police for their tireless and thorough investigations undertaken and for their compassion and support during what has been such a desperately sad and difficult 14 months since the loss of Matthew.

"In addition, we are grateful to the barrister for the CPS for her efforts and time spent with us all.

"However, despite everyone’s best efforts, we remain concerned and surprised at the apparent leniency of the sentence given by the Judge yesterday, particularly in the light of the previous driving convictions of the defendant.

"We have lost the light in our family, Matthew was a much loved son, brother and husband. We remain heartbroken," the statement read.

It emerged during the case that Locke had not only failed to stop at the scene of the crash but had driven passed the scene twice more without calling the emergency services.

"He in fact drove past the scene twice, again failing to stop," a Surrey Police spokesperson said.

"Mobile phone records revealed that he made a number of phone calls in the aftermath, none of which were to the emergency services."

Locke instead left his car at a garage and called a taxi, evading officers for two days before turning himself in at a police station.

He later pleaded guilty to intending to pervert the course of justice, failing to stop after a road traffic accident and failing to report a road traffic accident, for which he was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment.

He was sentenced to four months in prison after also pleading guilty to driving a motor vehicle dangerously

"Mitchell Locke was fully aware that he had been involved in a serious collision, and he left Matthew at the side of the road in urgent need of medical treatment," Investigating Officer, Detective Constable Greg Brown, said.

We were unable to establish why he did not remain at the scene of the collision, but it was clear that he had no intention to do so, and he quickly took steps to try and conceal his involvement," he added.

"Matthew’s family have shown immense dignity and composure throughout the investigation and court proceedings. Matthew was clearly much loved and is greatly missed by them".